Sam Faiers' mystery illness has been diagnosed. Following a six-week illness the *TOWIE *star has been told that she has Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease.
Sam, 23, has lost a stone and a half since her appearance in the Celebrity Big Brother house, and after undergoing a series of tests she has been told that she has Crohn’s – the symptoms of which include abdominal pain, weight loss and ulcers.
“She is suffering from lots of ulcers, so she needs to give them time to heal before she looks at the long term effects of the diagnosis.
“At the moment, she is just trying to cope with the excruciating stomach cramps. That has been the most difficult thing. Now, she is working with her gastroenterologist to see if she can work around her illness,” a source tells The Mirror.
“Sam won’t let things hold her back, she’s dealing with it in the best way she can. She knows she can’t change anything, but she can educate herself about the disease,” the source adds.
It’s thought that Crohn’s is a genetic disease, but researchers believe it can also be triggered by other factors including viruses, stress or dietary problems.
Sam's illness will have long-term effects; she will suffer from periods of ill health![] for the rest of her life and could even require surgery.
We’re sending all of our best wishes Sam’s way.